Lifestyle>>A glimpse behind Anchor - http://draftmag.com/beereditor/a-glimpse-behind-anchor/ - draftmag.com"These people changed the world, and now that I'm no longer the owner I can brag a little more about them." That was one of craft beer legend Fritz Maytag's opening statements yesterday as he addressed Arizona State's "Cultural and Chemical History of Beer" class at Taste of Tops in Tempe, Ariz. For roughly 40 minutes, Maytag, now former owner of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing, took the students through a whirlwind historical overview of the brewery, and how it evolved from producing unintentional sour beer to shining examples of the craft. "We have the world by the tail. The world doesn't know it yet, but we do," Maytag used to tell his staff. With his grandfatherly tangential stories, Maytag was simply captivating and candid.

The Craft Brewing Renaissance - http://fairfieldmirror.com/2011/03/09/brew-master-the-craft-brewing-renaissance/ - fairfieldmirror.comIn 1976, there were two craft breweries in America. Today, that number is closer to 1,600. This phenomenon has been dubbed "The American Craft Brewing Renaissance." The sudden revival in Americans' taste for well-crafted beer created a sizeable market for brew pubs, micro breweries, and amateur home brewing equipment.

New Planet's beer lineup eschews wheat and barley, wins accolades - http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_17566134 - dailycamera.comWhen Pedro Gonzalez first learned that he had celiac disease, the diagnosis presented both a challenge and a sense of relief. "On one hand I didn't know how to deal with it, but it was also great news because I was finally able to figure out what was wrong with me," he says.

Homebrewing>>New home-brew shop to open in Grand Rapids - http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/03/new_home-brew_shop_to_open_in.html - mlive.comWhether you're a newbie or an experienced home-brew veteran, Ben O'Connor hopes you'll walk though his door. On March 19, the Grand Haven native will open the doors to O'Connor's Home Brew Supply store at 613 Lyon St. NE, around the corner from Martha's Vineyard wine shop in the Heritage Hill neighborhood. The shop will sell equipment and ingredients to make beer, wine, mead and cider.

Government Affairs>>Kerry, Crapo introduce legislation to help small brewers - http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/03/kerry_crapo_int.html - boston.comSenators John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat, and Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, today introduced legislation to help small brewers, by seeking to reduce beer excise taxes, Kerry's office said in a statement. The Brewer's Employment and Excise Relief (BEER) Act will help create jobs at more than 1,600 small breweries nationwide, which collectively employ nearly 100,000 people, said Kerry. Massachusetts is home to approximately 38 small breweries, including Northampton Brewery, Haverhill Brewery, and Sam Adams, the country's largest small brewery.

Colo. lawmakers say beer wars need to end - http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LRQ2R01.htm - businessweek.comColorado lawmakers plan to introduce legislation allowing convenience stores and grocery stores to sell full-strength beer, after rules on the sale of low-strength beer were changed to make it easier for restaurants and liquor stores to offer those brands. Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, said Tuesday there was a perception of favoritism after the state Department of Revenue approved emergency rules this month that helped brew pubs sell low-strength beer.

Merkley-Wyden Bill Would Boost Brewers - http://www.ktvz.com/news/27137061/detail.html - ktvz.comOregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosponsored legislation Wednesday that will encourage job growth by reducing the beer excise tax on American small brewers. "Oregon's brewers are a valuable part of our state's economy and culture," Merkley said. "They employ thousands of Oregonians and brew beers recognized the world over for their quality and flavor. This bill is an opportunity to create jobs while supporting Oregonians who take immense pride in their craft and brew a darn good pint of beer."

Craft beer bridges partisan divide in Senate - http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0311/Craft_beer_bridges_partisan_divide_in_Senate_.html - politico.comMove over, Sam Adams: Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) want to make it easier for craft breweries to produce more beer. On Wednesday afternoon Kerry and Crapo introduced the Brewer's Employment and Excise Relief (BEER) Act, which would cut taxes for microbreweries and on the production of smaller quantities of beer barrels. "The craft beer revolution started right here in Massachusetts and they've been going toe to toe with multi-national beer companies ever since," said Kerry. "This bill will help ensure that these small businesses keep people on the payroll and create jobs even during tight economic times."

Legislature approves liquor law changes - http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51400012-76/licenses-drink-liquor-bill.html.csp - sltrib.comThe Utah Legislature has passed reforms to the state liquor laws that will make more licenses available for bars, eliminate daily drink specials and beef up enforcement. "This bill is not anyone's 'perfect,' but it is the compromise bill that everyone has come around to support," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper. SB314 would transfer 40 tavern licenses - where establishments can only serve beer - to restaurant alcohol licenses. Restaurant chains had complained since last year that the state had reached its cap for liquor licenses and they wouldn't open establishments without one. "Alcohol consumption in restaurants makes more sense than bars and taverns," said Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, the bill's sponsor.

Global>>Bill on 'beer ties' is welcomed by Burton pub giant - http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Bill-on-beer-ties-is-welcomed-by-Burton-pub-giant.htm - burtonmail.co.ukA BURTON-based pub company has responded to a new bill that has been discussed in Parliament. The Tied Public Houses (Code of Practice) Bill was presented by MP Martin Horwood after Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons yesterday. The bill, defeated under what is known as the 10 minute rule, tackles the issue of the 'beer ties', which are operated by many large pub companies, in which publicans are restricted to particular beers, making them unable to buy beers and other products from other breweries. If introduced, the bill would allow leasees to serve guest beers and give them the option to become 'free-of-tie', which would be accompanied by an open market rent review.